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John Briggs (Roman Catholic Bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Briggs was an English
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Beverley
from 1850 to 1860.
, Lancashire
, England. He began training for the priesthood
, aged 15, at Ushaw College
in County Durham
. He received the Tonsure
and the four Minor Orders
on 14 December 1804. Afterwards, he ordained
a subdeacon
on 19 December 1812, a deacon
on 3 April 1813, and a priest
on 19 July 1814. All by William Gibson
, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District
. Briggs left the college in 1816, but returned when elected President of Ushaw College on 28 March 1828. He remained at the college until 11 August 1832.
Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. He received his episcopal consecration
at Ushaw College on 29 June 1833, the principal consecrator
was Bishop Thomas Penswick
, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Peter Augustine Baines
, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District and Bishop Thomas Walsh
, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
.
On the death of Bishop Thomas Penswick on 28 January 1836, Briggs succeeded as Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. In 1840, two vicariates apostolic were created out of the Northern District, with Bishop Briggs appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Yorkshire District on 3 July 1840.
On the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy by Pope Pius IX
on 29 September 1850, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Beverley
. He resigned as Bishop of Beverley on 17 September 1860 and died at his house in York
on 4 January 1861, aged 72. A solemn Requiem Mass was held at St George's Pro-Cathedral, York on 9 January, followed by the bishop's burial in St. Leonard's Chapel, Hazlewood, near Tadcaster
on 10 January 1861.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Beverley
Diocese of Beverley
The Diocese of Beverley is an historical diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in England. It took its name after the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The diocese was established in 1850 and was replaced by two dioceses in 1878...
from 1850 to 1860.
Early life
John Briggs was born in Barton Moss, near EcclesEccles, Greater Manchester
Eccles is a town in the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England, west of Salford and west of Manchester city centre...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. He began training for the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
, aged 15, at Ushaw College
Ushaw College
Ushaw College was a Roman Catholic seminary near Durham, England that closed in 2011. Ushaw was the principal seminary in the north of England for the training of Catholic priests.-History:...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He received the Tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
and the four Minor Orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
on 14 December 1804. Afterwards, he ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
on 19 December 1812, a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on 3 April 1813, and a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 19 July 1814. All by William Gibson
William Gibson (bishop)
William Gibson was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1790 to 1821.Born in Stonecroft, near Hexham, Northumberland on 2 February 1738, the son of Jasper Gibson and Margaret Gibson . He was ordained to the priesthood in 1764...
, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District
Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District
The Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District was the title given to the Bishop who, between 1688 and 1850, headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern District.-Background:...
. Briggs left the college in 1816, but returned when elected President of Ushaw College on 28 March 1828. He remained at the college until 11 August 1832.
Episcopal career
On 22 January 1833, he was appointed CoadjutorCoadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
at Ushaw College on 29 June 1833, the principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
was Bishop Thomas Penswick
Thomas Penswick
Thomas Penswick was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District from 1831 to 1836....
, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Peter Augustine Baines
Peter Augustine Baines
Peter Augustine Baines was an English Benedictine, Titular Bishop of Siga and Vicar Apostolic of the Western District of England.-Life:...
, Vicar Apostolic of the Western District and Bishop Thomas Walsh
Thomas Walsh (UK bishop)
Bishop Thomas Walsh was a Roman Catholic clergyman and Vicar Apostolic who served the Midlands area of the United Kingdom. He was born in London on 3 October 1776, and ordained priest on 19 September 1801...
, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District
The Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District was the title given to the Bishop who headed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England which was known as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Midland District from 1688 and 1840, then the Central District from 1840 to...
.
On the death of Bishop Thomas Penswick on 28 January 1836, Briggs succeeded as Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. In 1840, two vicariates apostolic were created out of the Northern District, with Bishop Briggs appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Yorkshire District on 3 July 1840.
On the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
on 29 September 1850, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Beverley
Diocese of Beverley
The Diocese of Beverley is an historical diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in England. It took its name after the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The diocese was established in 1850 and was replaced by two dioceses in 1878...
. He resigned as Bishop of Beverley on 17 September 1860 and died at his house in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
on 4 January 1861, aged 72. A solemn Requiem Mass was held at St George's Pro-Cathedral, York on 9 January, followed by the bishop's burial in St. Leonard's Chapel, Hazlewood, near Tadcaster
Tadcaster
Tadcaster is a market town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. Lying on the Great North Road approximately east of Leeds and west of York. It is the last town on the River Wharfe before it joins the River Ouse about downstream...
on 10 January 1861.